Four legendary names in the Canadian music industry are the main ingredients: Murray McLauchlan, Ian Thomas, Marc Jordan and Cindy Church.

Mix together well.

Add a pinch of story telling, and a dash of humour.

The result is served best with wine.

It’s the recipe for Lunch At Allen’s on Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sanderson Centre.

Speaking over the phone from Nashville where he’s recording and producing a song for another artist, Jordan reflects on how the powerhouse foursome came together.

“Murray used to have these lunches where he’d have all these music people. He invited me,” recalls Jordan.

“We were just hanging out at a restaurant (in Toronto) called Allen’s Restaurant.”

Jordan says McLauchlan had been asked to put together a songwriters circle, and agreed only if he could choose the participants.

“So he invited me; he invited Ian, and Cindy,” he says.

“We did it like a band, not a songwriter’s circle. We all learned each other’s stuff.”

Jordan says the act caught the attention of an agent in the audience, who asked: “Do you want to do three more of these? They sound pretty good.”

That was about 12 years ago.

According to Jordan, the group “just grew organically.

“It’s a lot of fun for us because we’ve grown very close. There’s no ego. It’s just fun to be a sideman. And that’s what it should be at this point.”

Jordan says a musician who is accustomed to being in the spotlight plays a certain way.

But with Lunch At Allen’s, Jordan says he enjoys his role.

“It’s more analytical, and it’s given me a deeper understanding of Ian and Murray’s music. It gives you a different window into the other person’s song. It’s very interesting.”

The four have earned numerous Juno wins or nominations throughout their music careers.

Thomas has a number of memorable hit singles, including Painted Ladies and Right Before Your Eyes.

McLauchlan’s career has spanned more than 30 years, with 18 albums spawning songs such as Down By The Henry Moore and Farmer’s Song.

Church’s music spans several genres, including country, jazz and blues. She also is a member of Quartette, and has worked with the Great Western Orchestra and Ian Tyson.

Jordan has an impressive resume of artists he’s worked with, including Rod Stewart, Chicago and Cher. And many will remember his hit song Marina Del Rey.

He has just finished a solo jazz project with the Prague Symphony, which will be released in February.

Lunch At Allen’s is touring throughout Ontario this month.

“It’s just the four of us on stage,” notes Jordan.

“One of us will go to the piano, and there’s usually three guitars. It’s a pretty full sound, very acoustic. We play lots of stuff that people remember. Between us we have a lot of hits. So, we play those, but we play some new stuff as well. There’s a bit of everything there.”

Jordan says the show is not a Christmas one but they will perform a couple of holiday songs.

“It’s hard to say what it’ll be like until we hit the stage. It depends on how much wine we drink at dinner.”